Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Jacqueline’s Plea
Jacqueline Fernandez has knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court, challenging a Delhi trial court order that directed charges be framed against her in the high-profile Rs 200 crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear her plea, with the matter now scheduled for June 11. Industry sources confirm that a bench comprising Justices P.K. Mishra and A.S. Chandurkar listed the matter after Jacqueline’s counsel sought an urgent hearing.
The actress has taken issue with the May 30 order passed by the Patiala House Court, which held that there was sufficient material on record to frame charges against her under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating the case, which has been making headlines for months.
Trial Court Found Prima Facie Case Against Actress
On May 30, Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma observed that a prima facie case was made out against Jacqueline based on the material placed before the court by the ED. The court noted that there was prima facie sufficient material to indicate that Jacqueline had received luxury gifts from Chandrashekhar despite allegedly being aware of his criminal background. “I conclude that prima facie there is sufficient material on record, raising a strong suspicion that the accused Jacqueline Fernandez committed the offence under Section 3 of PMLA, punishable under Section 4 of PMLA,” the court said while directing that charges be framed.
The court further observed that there was prima facie material suggesting that she was “in connivance with Sukesh Chandrashekhar to conceal the use of proceeds of crime.” This observation has become a key point of contention in Jacqueline’s legal battle.
Jacqueline Denies Charges, Seeks Trial
On June 3, the trial court formally framed charges against Chandrashekhar, Jacqueline, and other accused persons in the money laundering case and a separate case registered under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), linked to the alleged extortion of Rs 200 crore from Aditi Singh. Jacqueline appeared before the court and denied the allegations against her, seeking a trial in the matter. She is an accused only in the money laundering case, not the MCOCA case.
While Chandrashekhar signed the charges in the money laundering case, he reportedly declined to sign the charges in the MCOCA case. His wife, Leena Maria Paul, signed the charges under protest in the MCOCA proceedings. According to court records, there are 21 accused persons in the money laundering case and 17 accused in the MCOCA case. The money laundering matter is scheduled for hearing on July 16, while the MCOCA case is listed for July 14.
Earlier this year, Jacqueline had moved an application seeking to become an approver in the ED case. However, after the agency opposed the request, she withdrew the application on April 16. With the Supreme Court now set to hear her plea, all eyes are on the next chapter of this legal drama.